The Washington Post bureaus closure is addition by subtraction
Your reaction to the Washington Post’s announced closure of three bureaus (in New York, Chicago and L.A.) probably depends on whether you see news as a print person or online person.
Print-oriented people see a withdrawal, a loss. In his story today on , Howard Kurtz notes:
What is lost, however, is the knowledge and experience of reporters who come to understand the local issues, personalities and culture of other regions by living there.
Online people know they can get the “local issues, personalities and culture of other regions” from the many news outlets and the 46 million people who actually ARE in Chicago, New York or L.A.
That’s my take as well. I see the Post making a smart reorganization of resources to improve the Post’s core mission.
Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchliis exactly right when he said: “We are not a national news organization of record serving a general audience.” He is right to say the Post’s strength is to report on Washington, and on national issues through a “Washington prism.”
Cover what you do best, and link to the rest.
